Security box



Jan. 19, 1965 J. E. sHRlN, JR

SECURITY BOX Filed Jan. l0, 1964 2 Sheets-SheekI l M2 F/G. 2 4'6 INVENTOR. .Iasi/H E. S/foK/N J2 Jan. 19, 1965 J. E. sHoRlN, JR

SECURITY BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1964 INVENTOR. 1055/0# E. .SHOE/N JP:

BY ma 5ms United States Patent C 3,166,364 SECURITY BOX Joseph E. Shorin, Jr., 109-10 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, N.Y. Filed Jan. 10, 1964i, Ser. No. 336,982 9 Claims. (ci. S12- 204) This invention relates to a secur-tiy box, and more particularly to a portable box wherein valuables may be secured. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a box which is adapted to be disposed within a confined space, the box including mechanism which prevents unauthorized persons from removing the box from the space. A primary desirablefeature of the box lies in its ability to accommodate itself to, i.e. to-secure itself within, enclosed or partially enclosed areas of a variety of shapes and sizes. i Y

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a security box which is adapted to be inserted within a partially closed area, such as a drawer of a bureau, desk or the like, the box including retractable abutment means which may be extended therefrom whereby the box may initially be inserted into a drawer with the abutment means -in retracted position, and the means thereafter extended in such manner as to prevent opening of the drawer to a degree necessary for the removal of the box. The device further includes means, such as a key operated lock, -to enable authorized persons to release the abutment means to the retracted position thereof, whereby complete opening of the drawer or the like containing the box is permitted.

The device of the present invention is particularly useful for the protection of valuables during travel. Under such circumstances it is frequently necessary for a traveller either to deposit his valuables with the hotel or motel management for storage in a safe, or to leave the valuables in his room. The practice of depositing valuables with the hotel management, while of course providing a high degree of security, is relatively inconvenient, particularly where frequent access to the valuables is desired. In addition, it has been found that knowledge of the fact that articles are deposited with the management serves as an indication to third parties `that the bearer is possessed of valuable commodities, thereby rendering the bearer a target or mark for theft.

On the other hand, the practice of leaving valuables unguarded in a hotel room, even where the room is locked,

does not provide a significant degree of security since Y keys or pass keys to hotel and motel roms are necessarily available to a large number of personnel.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a portable safety box which may be accommodated within a drawer and which may be actuated to limit opening of the drawer to a degree sufficient to remove the box except by authorized persons having keys for operating the box mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety box of the type described which may be portable `or which may be a permanent part of a piece of furniture which incorporates, in addition to means for blocking opening of a drawer, an inner locked container whereby access to the contents of the box is prevented, even if it. were possible to open the drawer.

Still a further object of the invention -is to provide a portable safety box which affords a high degree of security and discourages tampering by reason of the provision of plural security features, namely, mechanism limiting removal of the box from a confining space, and mechanism for locking the box.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of simple and convenient operating mechanism for a box of the type described.

n 3,156,354 Patented Jan. 19., 1965 ICC To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side sectional view through a drawer within which a device in accordance with the invention has been mounted;

AFIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device, parts being broken away to show details of construction;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the device;

FIGURE 3a is a fragmentary section taken on the line Zia-3a of FIGURE 2; i

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2; v

FIGURE 5 is a section similar to FIGURE 4, showing the position of the parts in the unlocked condition;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a safety box in accordance with the invention.

The safety box in accordance with Ithe invention includes an outer casing 20, an inner casing 22, a lid 24 and a blocking or abutment assembly referred to generally as 26.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, the abutment assembly incorporates a spaced pair of arms 28, 30, joined at their outer ends by a spacer bar 32. The arms 28, 30 are clamped at their respective ends 34, 36 to a cross shaft 38 in a mannerto be hereinafter described. Spring mechanism is provided for rotating the cross shaft 38, thereby to swing the free ends of arms 28, 30 carrying the spacer bar 32 clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 1. Mechanism is provided for locking the arms and spacer bal in the upward pivoted `position aforesaid against attempts to move these parts counterclockwise or in a downward direction as viewed in FIGURE 1.

It will be observed that where the device is disposed within a drawer D, see FIGURE l, the free ends of the arms and the spacer bar will lie in the path of a bead d and will thereby limit the extent to which the drawer D may be moved or slid outwardly of the recess in which it is confined.

The lid 24, in the illustrated embodiment, is coordinated with the mechanism controlling the arms 28, 30 to the end that the lid is locked against opening while the arms are locked against downward depressing movement. The control mechanism above referred to, which is actuated by a lock mechanism ofsome sort, preferably a key lock mechanism, upon actuation will effect simultaneously a release of the lid 24 and a release of the arms 28, 30 from the arm control mechanism. The release aforesaid will enable the arms to be downwardly pivoted clear of the bead d, permitting removal of the box from the drawer.

Proceeding now to a more detailed description, it will be observed that the shaft 38 is journalled at its opposite ends in a pair of forwardly and rearwardly extending flange portions 40, 42 which form continuations of the inner container 22. The arms 28, 30 are clamped to the shaft aforesaid by clamp locks 44, 46, respectively. A torsion spring 48 is sleeved over the shaft 38 into the ends thereof, see FIGURES 2 and 3, one end 50 of the spring 48 being attached to a hub 52 made fast to the shaft 38, with 4the opposite end 54 of the spring being disposed against, or fastenedv to, a stationary portion of the case.

The spring 48 is biased between the casing and the hub 52 in such manner as to provide a torque, whereby the shaft 38 and its associated arms tend to be rotated in a clockwise or upward direction when viewed in the position of FIGURE 2. As best seen in FIGURES 3a and 4, the arms 28, 30 adjacent the rearward portion thereof are provided with tooth segments 58, 60, the segments providing the equivalent of a portion of a ratchet wheel. It will be noted that the arms 28, 30 are mounted to lie 1in the space between the .inner case or compartment 22 iand the outer case 2t).

by a generally U-shaped link 74, the central branch 76' of which runs parallel to the-front wall 'tof the casing and is disposed in the space between the outer casing 21B and the inner casing 22.l The link 74 is supported adjacent its Central branch 76 on a pair of opposed short levers di), S2. The levers 8i), 82 are mounted at their lower endsv 84, 86 on a cross shaft 88, the ends of which shaft are journalled in spaced bearing apertures defined by opposed portions ofthe inner casing 22. The upper ends of the levers 80, 82 are connected' by cross shaft Qtl, clearance for forward and rearward movement of the shaft 9d being provided by slots 92 (FIGURES 4 and 5) detincd in portions of the walls of the inner casing.

The link 74 is provided with a pair of spaced apertures (not shown) through which the shaft 9) is passed,

thereby pivotally supporting the forward end of the link 740m the saft 10.

The free ends 100, 102 (FIGURE k2) of the link 74 are pivotally mounted to pawls 104, 1% by means of pivot pins, such as shown at 108. The lower ends of the pawls M14, 1M are pivotally mounted on stub shafts 10de, 111261 cio-axially disposed on the opposed'outer side walls 22a, 22h of the inner cas-ing 22. T he upper end of pawls 104, 1% are provided with nose portions 110, 112, which nose portions areY urged against the ratchet segments S8, 60 by tension springs' 114,116 which are secured to'the link 74 and stub shafts 1000, 102a, it being readily understood that the spring, when thus set up, will tend to urge the link 74 rearwardly within the space between the inner and outer casings.

Fixed to wall 20a of the outer casing is a lock mechy The mechanism inanism 12) of conventional design. corporates a laterally displaceable bolt 122, which bolt, when the lock is actuated by a proper key K (FIGURE 6) will shift to the left as viewed in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5. The tensioning action of springs 114, 116 tends to urge cross shaft 90 against the side wall portion of the lock 1211 through which the bolt 122 is projected.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the U-shaped link '74 is supported on the opposed levers 8i), 82 `and pawls 104, 106, with. the whole assembly being drawn to the right by the action of the springs 114, 116. However, when a leftwardly directed force is applied, as viewed in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, the entire link 74 will be free to move to the left against the biasing pressure provided by the springs 114, 116. Such a leftward force may be exercised by the bolt 122 of the lockl or by the teeth ofratchet segments 58, 60 acting against noses 110, 112 of pawls 104, 1116.

The central branch 76 of the link 74 is provided withy an upstanding dogging arm 140 having at its upper end a horizontally disposed dogging finger 142. The rearmost face 144 of the finger 142 denes an inclined cam surface, for purposes which will appear hereafter.

The dogging arm 148) extends through a forwardly and rearwardly directed slot 146, FIGURE 2, formed in the inclined front wall 22C of the inner compartment 22. Thefront wall 26 of the outer compartment ZtlV is provided with a pair of vertically directed'spaced slots 261e, 2W, which permit the arms 28, 39 toV be depressed to the lowermost position, as shown in FIGURE 5.

As will be understood from the foregoing description, the arms are normally biased toward their upper position by torsion spring 48 and it is therefore desirable to provide a detent 143 which is pivoted at 15d and includes a hold down finger 152 which may, as best seen in dot and dash lines in FIGURE 3 and in solid lines in FIG- URE 5, be swung over the arm 31B, to hold the same against the biasing force of spring 48. I 1

in use, the lid 24 is lifted and the valuables deposited in the inner box or container 22. It will be recognized that to permit lifting ofthe lid, the link 74 and the dogging nger carrying the dogging arm 140 must be in the forward position shown in FIGURE 5, which position can be attained only wherebolt 122 is extended through the use of a key. When it is desired to secure the box within a drawer, the key is rotated to withdraw the bolt 122 into the housing of the lock 129, whereby the entire linkage 74 will be shifted to the right under the iniiuence of springs 114, 116. With the parts thus positioned, the box is inserted, preferably to the rearmost corner of a drawer.Y It will be observed that after withdrawal of the key,the lid may bedepressed since the cam surface 7@ will coact with the cam surface144 of the dogging iinger to Lcause a forward movement of the inner link 74. When so depressed, it will be understood that the springs 114, 116 will again urge the link 74 rearwardly, bringing the latch 68 and the dogging finger 142 into locked engagement. The hold down member 152 may thereafter be pivoted so as to clear the arm 30, whereupon the tension spring 48 will cause the arms 23, dit to pivot clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1.

It will be observed that during the clockwise movement, the noses of the pawls 1112, 164 will scan the ratchet segments 58, 60, and during such scanning action the link 74 will be reciprocated forwardly and rearwardly. Due to the relative slopes of the pawl noses and ratchet segments, an upward movement of the arms is permitted. However, Vit will be readily understood that a downward force exerted against the upwardly pivoted arms will be ineffective to depress the arms in view of the relationship of the pawl noses and ratchet segments. It will thus be observed that once the device has been inserted within a drawer and the arms have been permitted to pivot upwardly, the'device cannot thereafter be removed outwardly through the drawer since the free ends of the arms carrying the cross bar 32 will provide an abutment surface which will engage the beaded at the forward part of the frame housing the drawer and will frustrate any attempt either fully to open the drawer or to remove the box from a partly opened drawer.

It wiil `be further understood that one possessed of a key to lock 120 will be able to effect removal of the box by operating the lock, thus projecting bolt 122 and thereby clearing the noses of the pawls from the ratchet segments of the arms. With clearance provided by operation of the lock, the arms may be depressed, the drawer may be fully opened and thebox removed therefrom.

It will be observed that in operating the lock to permit depression of the arms, there has been a simultaneous clearance of the latch 142 from retainer shoulder 72, permitting the lid 24 of the box to be opened.

It has been found that the effectiveness of the device may be greatly improved by providing on the bottom of the box a pad of spongy material R, such as spongy rubber or a like substance having a high coefficient of friction. The use of a layer or pad of this sbstance will limit the freedom of movement of the box when positioned in the drawer, and further discourage attempts to tamper with or remove the box from the drawer.

t will be further noted that the device will accommodate itself to drawers of a wide variety of depths since the torsion spring 48 will tend to pivot the arms clockwise until the ends engage the under surface of the structure directly above the drawer.

bodiment, while preferred, is lbut one manifestation of the concept of the present invention, which should be broadly construed within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that a standard attach case, for instance, may be adapted to embody the invention hereof, the hinged leat` or cover of the attach case providing the desired abutment means which engages the bead or like obstruction deiined adjacent the forward edge of a drawer.

Also, while the prime utity of the device is considered to be in its use as a portable box, it is within the contemplation of the invention that the same may be built into a piece of furniture or the like as a permanent part thereof. j

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. A portable strong box adapted to be locked against .removal from a drawer or a like structure, slida'oly mounted in an article opening having a depending 4bead portion comprising a container havi-ng a` closure, abutment means movably mounted on said container and shift-V able between projecting and retracted positions with re- Spect to said container, lock means on said container operatively associated with said abutment means and movable between two positions, respectively a locking position whereat movement of said abutment means from said projecting to said retracted position is prohibited, and a releasing position whereat movement from said projected to said retracted position is permitted and a readily compressible, high friction layer on a bottom portion of said box.

2. A portable strong box adapted to be locked against removal from a drawer or a like structure, slidably mounted in an article opening including a depending bead portion, comprising a container, a lid hinged to said container, a pair of abutment means having inner ends pivotally mounted on said container for tandem movement and having outer free ends, spring means biasing said free ends outwardly above said container and into the path of said bead, a locking slide movably mounted on said container and movable between first and seco-nd limiting positions with respect thereto, latch means on said slide engaging and locking said lid when said slide is in said rst position, a pawl on said slide, a ratchet connected to said arms, said pawl engaging said ratchet when said slide is in said first position, said ratchet and pawl in said engaged position permitting upward movement and preventing downward pivotal movement of said free ends of said arms with respect to said container, lock means on said container operatively connected to said slide, said lock means, when moved to the unlocked position, shifting said slide to said second position whereat said pawl is cleared from said ratchet and said latch means is cleared from said lid.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said container includes on its bottom portion a high friction layer.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said Y high friction layer is readily compressible.

5. A portable strong box resistant to removal from a partly enclosed space comprising a container, a movable closure for said container, movable abutment means carried by said Container for eifectively increasing the size of the container by extending beyond said container to a projected position, abutment blocking means associated with said abutment means for preventing movement of said abutment means away from said projected position and lock means shiftable between locking and releasing positions of said closure and operatively associated with said abutment blocking means, said lock means, in the release position thereof, releasing said abutment blocking means from said abutment, whereby said abutment means may be moved from said projected position effectively to reduce the size of the container and thereby permit removal thereof from said partly enclosed space.

6. A strong box comprising a container, a pivotally mounted lid on said container, a spaced pair of arms swinga-bly mounted on said container and extending alongside said container, spring means biasing said arms in tandem to an inclined position with respect to vsaid container whereby the ends of said arms not pivoted to said container project beyond said container, pawl and ratchet linkage interposed between said container and said arms, said linkage permitting pivotal movement of said arms away from but not toward said container, latch means for maintaining said lid in the closed position thereof, and lock operated release means actuatable to clear said pawl from said ratchet and said latch from saidlid.

7. A portable box in accordance with claim 6 wherein the free ends of said arms are joined by a cross bar, said cross bar, in said alongside position of said arms, extending beyond an end portion of said co-ntainer, thereby to provide a handle for said container. i

8. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the under surface of said container is providedwith a readily compressible pad having a high coeificient of friction. "9. A strong box comprising a container, a pivotally mounted lid on said container, arm means swingably mounted on said container and normally disposed ad-V jacent a portion of said container, spring meatns biasing said arm means to an inclined position with respect to said container whereby portions of said arm means remote from said swingably mounted portion project beyo-nd said container, link means interposed between said arm means and container, said link means permitting pivotal movement of said arm means away from but not toward said container, latch means on said box for releasibly maintaining said lid in the closed position thereof, and lock operated release means operatively associated with said latch means and said link means and actuable simultaneously to shift said link means to releasing position of said arm means and said latch means to releasing position of said lid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 128,439 6/72 Unna 312-204 185,618 12/ 76 Zimmerman 312-204 508,895 11/93 Meyers 109-54 X 1,450,974 4/23 Heotes 312-204 2,309,888 2/43 Edelmann 312--246 X 2,966,257 12/60 Littlejohn 312-244 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE STRONG BOX ADAPTED TO BE LOCKED AGAINST REMOVAL FROM A DRAWER OR A LIKE STRUCTURE, SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN AN ARTICLE OPENING HAVING A DEPENDING BEAD PORTION COMPRISING A CONTAINER HAVING A CLOSURE, ABUTMENT MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CONTAINER AND SHIFTABLE BETWEEN PROJECTING AND RETRACTED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID CONTAINER, LOCK MEANS ON SAID CONTAINER OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ABUTMENT MEANS AND MOVABLE BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS, RESPECTIVELY A LOCKING POSITION WHEREAT MOVEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENT MEANS FROM SAID PROJECTING TO SAID RETRCTED POSITION IS PROHIBITED, AND A RELEASING POSITION WHEREAT MOVEMENT FROM SAID PROJECTED TO SAID RETRACTED POSITION IS PERMITTED AND A READILY COMPRESSIBLE, HIGH FRICTION LAYER ON A BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID BOX. 